EVERY MONDAY THE SCORE rounds up the main talking points from around Europe’s top leagues. Vamos.
Bundesliga
There was no doubt what the game of the weekend in Germany was as champions Broussia Dortmund visited last year’s runners-up Bayer Leverkusen.
The game finished 0-0 but was far from a dull affair with both sides reduced to 10 men late in the second half.
Michal Kadlec saw red for Leverkusen in the 65th minute while Mario Gotze showed he has a nasty side as he received his marching orders in the 73rd minute.
Bayern Munich and Mario Gomez in particular continue to plunder the goals. The German international bagged a hat-trick as Bayern dispatched Kaiserslautern 3-0 away.
That result sees them top of the league heading into the international break.
Cedric Makidi hit the goal of the weekend as Freiburg won their first game of the season, beating Wolfsburg 3-0. Handy.
Eredivisie
Europe is awash with small, nimble playmakers at the moment. Juan Mata had a goalscoring start to life at Chelsea, while Wesley Sneijder, Samir Nasri and Luka Modric have occupied the back pages all summer. The Eredivisie has its own little man, and he is a little special.
Christian Eriksen continues to float across the pitches of Holland with grace and sublime skill. He was the fulcrum again as Ajax thrashed Vitesse Arnhem 4-1. His right foot could open a tin of beans.
If that wasn’t enough, he also did this. Pick your jaw up off the floor after.
PSV hammered Excelsior 6-1, Dries Mertens with a hat-trick for the home side. Table toppers FC Twente kept up their 100% record with a 4-1 win over VVV Venlo.
Ligue 1
It's early days for the great project of Paris Saint Germain but coach Leonardo was already feeling the heat as the French big spenders had only won one of their opening three games and that is a lamentable record to billionaire owners.
The Brazilian was a relieved man yesterday then as PSG, inspired by Javier Pastore ended Toulouse’s unbeaten start to the season by winning 3-1 away.
Lille edged a 5 goal thriller with Marseille. Didier Deschamps isn’t the only French coach in Europe grateful for the international break. OM have now only three points from their opening four games.
Lyon followed PSG’s lead by ending Montpellier’s own unbeaten start. Miralem Pjanic was the difference scoring one and setting up the other in a 2-1 win.
Serie A
We were all strapped in, ready for another barmy season in Italy until another strike put paid to the start of the year’s Serie A. Napoli and Palermo did have a friendly on Saturday though and Christian Maggio scored our obligatory overhead kick.
